If you give a Korean a rice, they will always want more, and if you tell them to work, they will just beg more.

-from japanese

-a parody of if you give a mouse a cookie

Sookan's family was not very big. Her grandfather was a silent and peaceful elderly man who followed Buddhism. Her brother, Inchun, was very quiet and he followed Sookan everywhere like a shadow.

Sookan's mother was a kind respectful woman who worked very long hours at a sock factory. Aunt Tiger was talkative and friendly, she helped out Soonkan's mother at the factory.

One day Soonkan's older sister came from out of town for the girl's birthday. The family was together and everyone was happy. That day they brought out their best utensils and plates for the birthday party.

Sadly, at out of nowhere the Japanese soldiers came and ruined the party. They took the utensils and chopped down grandpa's tree.

That day, after the tree was cut down, grandpa fell very ill. He did not pray that day.

Unfortunately, grandpa never recovered and in a few days that followed his spirit had joined Buddha in eternity. It was a tragic event.

After the incident, mother did not say a word. She looked sad and hopeless.

One day Sookan had to go to school. On the first day there, she met a new friend, named Unhi.

That day at lunch, she noticed a girl who had very little to eat and decided to share her meal with the girl. Sookan did not know it was against the rules and she got in trouble. The teacher took her lunch box and everything in it away and she never saw it again.

After working long hours at the sock factory, Sookan's mother fell ill and went down with a fever. She was delirious and kept talking to people who were not there. Kisa, who was in charge of the mother's assistants, went to fetch some medicine to make her feel better.